Khau Lau - Vuc Ho: Place of the Border Campaign's Beginning

The national relic site Khau Lau - Vuc Ho, in Bong village, Tan Trao commune (Son Duong), is where President Ho Chi Minh stayed three times in 1949 and 1950 Hãy nghe Nguyễn Thế Dương một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .

The national relic site Khau Lau - Vuc Ho, in Bong village, Tan Trao commune (Son Duong), is where President Ho Chi Minh stayed three times in 1949 and 1950 to lead the resistance against the French.

                                                                       Image source: Collected

The first time, Uncle Ho stayed from April 6, 1949 to May 16, 1949, in a small stilt house near the Pho Day River. Next to the house was a volleyball court where Uncle Ho and his close comrades played volleyball every day. Here, Uncle Ho wrote the article "Bitter Medicine for the Disease of Sectarianism," discussing its significance, purpose, and critique methods. He also chaired expanded Central Committee meetings to discuss political, governmental, and economic projects in preparation for the Party Congress.

The second time, Uncle Ho stayed from June 1, 1949 to early January 1950. During this period, he completed the book "Frugality, Industry, Honesty, and Integrity." Notably, he wrote the poem "Boating on the Pho Day River," reflecting on his boat trip to visit the resistance cadre's class in the district town of Son Duong and the article "People's Movement," dated October 15, 1949.

Later, the poem "Boating on the Pho Day River" became a literary masterpiece in textbooks, and the article "People's Movement" became the Traditional Day of People's Work of the Party. On January 2, 1950, dressed in the traditional attire of the Nung ethnic group, Uncle Ho secretly set out on a diplomatic mission to the Soviet Union and China to expand diplomatic relations.

The third time, Uncle Ho stayed from April to September 1950, following a long overseas diplomatic trip. Evaluating the success of the trip, Uncle Ho affirmed it as the greatest victory in Vietnamese history. Recognition from the Soviet Union, China, and other new democratic countries broke the siege of imperialism on the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. From then on, Vietnam's resistance gained strength from the world revolution, transitioning step by step into the counter-offensive and offensive phase.

                                               Image source: Collected

In June 1950, at Khau Lau - Vuc Ho, the Party Central and Uncle Ho decided to launch the Border Campaign. Uncle Ho instructed, "This campaign is only for victory, not for defeat."

In August 1950, Uncle Ho and the Party Central approved the operational plan for the campaign. At the beginning of September 1950, Uncle Ho departed from Khau Lau to direct the Border Campaign of 1950.

During this time, Uncle Ho wrote many famous works, articles, speeches, letters, signed important decrees, and chaired or participated in many important activities of the Central Committee and the Government.

Some of the famous works written during this period include the article "Bitter Medicine for the Disease of Sectarianism," written in April 1949. In this article, Uncle Ho analyzed: "Bitter medicine cures diseases, speaking the truth serves well. Criticism is the remedy for rectifying shortcomings... We revolutionize for the people and the country. For a successful revolution, unity and progress are essential... Criticism is the right and duty of everyone, it is practicing democracy. To refrain from criticism is to relinquish one's democratic rights." These works written by Uncle Ho during his time at Khau Lau - Vuc Ho still hold their value today.

                                                                        Image source: Collected

Thon Bong, where the National Monument Khau Lau - Vuc Ho is located, currently has over 800 residents in 180 households. The economy mainly relies on agriculture. With the diligence and hard work of the people, by 2021, there were only 3 poor households left in the village, with over 97% of families achieving cultural family status.

Over the past 75 years, the people here have passed down stories about Uncle Ho and reminded each other to build warm and happy lives together. The years and months Uncle Ho spent living and working here are deeply engraved in the hearts of the people, serving as motivation to develop their homeland into an increasingly beautiful place. Today in Thon Bong, with closely clustered multi-story houses, the lives of the residents have become more fulfilled.

Nguyễn Thế Dương